Can I safely add softies to a recently cycled tank?!

[chunkylovah]

Pretty much the title! I have heard differing opinions on this. I was thinking a frogspawn or hammer as a first addition.

 

[heathlindner25]

Those are not softies...:headwally:

 

[mcozad829]

Pretty much the title! I have heard differing opinions on this. I was thinking a frogspawn or hammer as a first addition.

This is one of those questions of could vs should. Is it possible to keep softies happy in a newly cycled tank? Yes. Is it the best practice? No. Although softies tend to be the hardiest group of corals they still aren't as hardy as the "starter" or "beginner" fish. I'm sure you know that newly cycled tanks are prone to parameters swings, this is why most people tend to start a freshly cycled tank with fish. Ultimately its your tank and your decision. Just a little FYI frogspawn and hammers are LPS corals, not softies.

 

[chunkylovah]

Whoopsies my generalizations have finally caught up.. thats what I get for grouping softies and lps in the same category in my mind. If they sway their soft/lps, if they look like sticks they are sps. Lol thanks!

 

[Reef noob_]

Whoopsies my generalizations have finally caught up.. thats what I get for grouping softies and lps in the same category in my mind. If they sway their soft/lps, if they look like sticks they are sps. Lol thanks!

Yeah have to be specific around here haha... I usually like to add my first 1-3 fish, let the tank stabilize for a month or two, then add my next few fish along with my first corals.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[rvareef]

post a full tank shot

 

[mcgyvr]

Always best to at least wait till you get through the ugly stages and to ensure you can keep your parameters stable.. That takes time.. plain and simple..

So I would answer a big fat NO..

 

[nereefpat]

Frogspawn/hammer may not make it. But frags of those things should be <10$, so it might be worth trying.

Like others have said, those are stony corals. So you will need to have your salinity, alk, and Ca on point...as well as lighting.

 

[ant123mon]

I’d start with a cheap mushroom rock or something. Also they sell some product I think it’s turbo cycle. That helped me get my ammonia in check within days. Probably better to wait. I personally didn’t wait long and dont regret it.
Anthony

 

[Sk8r]

The corals you name are stony and require higher light than softies, plus calcium supplementation by kalk or other means.